Eddie Akaia: No-Go, but an AWE-Inspiring Experience

WOW!!! What an experience! Started my day 6:30 am.: I drove hubby to work (Sorry:( he could not go with me). I could tell on the drive up to the North Shore that it was going to be an awesome day; the sun was pinkish, purple coming up over the mountains...beautiful !!! (Took Pics) NO TRAFFIC ???  I was expecting it to be stacked up, b/c the news kept saying the Eddie Akai was probably going to take place some time during the day; waves (swells predicted to be 15-40 Ft.) and weather permitting (Sunny and 80's).  Famous Surfers were coming from all over anticipating the big event. I parked at Kaiaka Beach Park; several miles away from Waimea Bay Beach Park, where the Quicksilver Surf Competition was to be held.    
      The city offered shuttles from nearby beach parks every 20 minutes to alleviate traffic congestion around the event. When I boarded the shuttle (7 am.) at its first stop, I thought it was strange that I was the only one on the bus, but that soon changed at the next stop. By the time we arrived at Waimea Bay it was standing room only. As I disembarked the shuttle I noticed that everyone was heading left over the bridge to the giant grandstands. Being the adventurous type, I noticed a small section of the beach to the right behind the trees. I saw a one guy with a big camera perched behind the trees; I asked him if there was a way to get down to the beach to the right; He said sure, easy right at the end of the sidewalk, He also said the surfing will be taking place straight out from there. Just like he said easy, peasy, I found a nice place to sit and; sure enough, I could see all the surfers floating in the water,right in front of me.
     As I watched more and more surfers came, one by one plopping their boards down, waxing them and doing quick TV interviews in front of me. (AWESOME SPOT) I viewed as they ran, jumped and paddled their way through the large waves out to the group. Every now and then an extremely huge wave would be announced and two, three or four surfers would take off; It looked like stripes and zig-zags going down the face of the waves. Glad they warned the crowds: they would say: grab your children and valuables, head for higher ground a few minutes before the really big waves approached. A few of the really huge waves cracked like thunder when they hit the beach and came up past where the spectators were sitting. Not bad but enough to get everything wet. Occasionally one or two surfers would surf all the way to the shore, waving arms, hopping, flipping and crashing in the waves toward the shore. The crowd would gasp and cheer...So much fun to watch! Even though the waves were huge, they called off the Eddie bc they said the waves were not consistent and predictable enough to hold the event.

Everyone should see a surf competition at least once in their life, It was an awesome experience!!!